A microdistillery and tasting room is now open in Matthews
A new distillery and tasting room is now open in Matthews, bringing a variety of whiskeys and other spirits — plus a slushy machine for even more fun.
Co-owners Matt Simpkins and Thomas Bogan opened Oaklore Distillery Co. — which sits at the southernmost tip of the MoRA neighborhood — at the end of September.
What to expect: Whiskeys made with North Carolina grains, including a rye and some bourbons. The distillery will also make gin, rum, vodka and some moonshine to offer, along with cocktails and that slushy machine behind the bar.
The vibe: “If you’re going to be a distillery, you know it’s going to be fun. … Our job as a distillery is to make the space for people to come try some things,” Simpkins previously told CharlotteFive.
The atmosphere: The owners are big on creating a space with a community feel where folks can gather and get to know each other. The footprint at Oaklore isn’t large enough to offer food. However, there will be outdoor patio seating with a large stone fireplace, and the owners plan to partner with local food trucks.
How it started: Simpkins, who is a Lutheran pastor, and Bogan, who owns a construction company are neighbors in Matthews who met 5-6 years ago at the school bus stop in the mornings and eventually formed a social group with other families in the area.
“People needed community and needed relationships with people around them, but didn’t know how to do it,” Simpkins said.
They eventually created a men’s retreat that included a bourbon and craft root beer tasting and realized they were onto something. The pair played around with distillates and kept at it.
“We made a bottle of stuff that we took to a blind tasting with some guys who are whiskey nerds like us, and it won the competition,” Simpkins said. “Holy moly, we aren’t actually terrible at this. We can do this.”
Membership details: Oaklore offers two membership options, which include some swag, discounts on merch and invites to special events.
“Our membership clubs were really designed to increase community engagement,” Bogan said. “We want to know our customers by name, share a drink, and give them a sense of belonging. It also helps give our whiskey enthusiasts a heads up on special releases.”
Oaklore Distilling Co.
Location: 11136 Monroe Rd., Matthews, NC 28105
Instagram: @oakloredistillingco
Editor’s note: This article was first published Feb. 9, 2022, and has been updated.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 5:14 PM.
